Kobi Alexander continues to bide his time in Namibia. The Namibia Supreme Court accepted the petition of Alexander, that clause 21 of the Extradition Law of 1996 is unconstitutional.

Alexander, the founder and former CEO of Comverse Technology Inc. (Nasdaq:CMVT), is wanted in the US for securities fraud including options backdating. According to Namibia's Extradition Law, the subject of an extradition request would have been required to remain in prison while the extradition proceedings and appeals are heard - a process that could take years.

Following the ruling, Alexander will be allowed to remain free while the Supreme Court considers the extradition request from the US, and his appeals.

This latest ruling is an important victory in Alexander's struggle against extradition, and also strengthens his bargaining position in negotiating a compromise settlement with the US authorities.

Alexander had not wanted to suffer the fate of Hans Jurgen Koch, a German national who fled Germany where he was wanted for money laundering. Koch sat in a Namibian jail for four years before being released due to lack of evidence.

Alexander will now be able to submit a series of appeals against extradition, and take advantage of court bureaucracy while remaining free.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 12, 2010

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